They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
DANIEL 5:4KJVWhat does Daniel 5:4 mean?
Daniel 5:4 describes people at a royal banquet drinking wine and giving praise to idols made from gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. The verse highlights their devotion to these lifeless objects instead of honoring the true God.
The scene takes place during a lavish feast hosted by King Belshazzar of Babylon, with his nobles, wives, and concubines present. The verse sets the stage for the dramatic events that follow, showing the king and his guests openly worshiping material idols using sacred vessels taken from the Jerusalem temple. This act of idolatry and disrespect is a key reason for the judgment that soon comes upon them.
The Aramaic behind Daniel 5:4
- "praised" (שְׁבַח, shevach): This word means to give praise or honor. In this context, it emphasizes that the people were actively celebrating and honoring their idols, not just mentioning them in passing.
- "gods" (אֱלָה, elah): This term refers to deities or divine beings, but here it clearly points to false gods—physical idols made by human hands.
- The list of materials—gold (דְּהַב, dehav), silver (כְּסַף, kesaf), brass (נְחָשׁ, neḥash), iron (פַּרְזֶל, parzel), wood (עִס, is), and stone (אֶבֶן, even)—underscores the variety and emptiness of the idols being worshiped, contrasting them with the living God.
Why Daniel 5:4 matters
- Daniel 5:4 makes clear that the people were not just enjoying a party, but were deliberately worshiping idols with the temple vessels, showing a deep disrespect for God.
- The verse helps explain why the later judgment against Belshazzar is so severe; it is not just a matter of pride, but of open defiance and sacrilege.
- By listing the materials of the idols, Daniel 5:4 highlights the contrast between the lifeless, man-made objects and the living God whom the Babylonians ignored.